Nozzle system and cleaning method for cleaning vehicle parts, particularly the window glass of motorized vehicles.

Abstract

To provide a nozzle system and a cleaning method for cleaning a vehicle part, which can be manufactured with little effort and cost and is effectively heated with only little energy consumption during operation. [Solution] A nozzle system 10 for washing a vehicle part, the nozzle system including a nozzle body 13 having a nozzle for spraying washing fluid onto the vehicle part, a fluid conduit arrangement structure 15 formed for connection to a fluid-based vehicle washing system to direct the washing fluid to the nozzle body 13, and a conductive heating wire 18 extending through the fluid conduit arrangement structure 15 and the nozzle body 13, in which the heating wire 18 includes portions 26, 28 having different cross-sections depending on its respective position in the nozzle system 10.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a nozzle system for cleaning vehicle parts and a method for cleaning vehicle parts. The vehicle part is particularly the windshield of a motor vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] Often, a nozzle system is used to clean vehicle parts and particularly vehicle windshields. For example, in various classes of motor vehicles, in order to ensure the cleaning of the front windshield of a motor vehicle using a cleaning liquid or washing liquid, a so-called nozzle row having a plurality of nozzles is used under the hood of the vehicle. Thereby, it is possible to inject washing water onto the front windshield through the nozzles according to the driver's intention. In order to ensure good functionality at low temperatures or during freezing at the outlet of the cleaning fluid from the nozzle body, the nozzle row is provided with a heating part.

[0003] Such a nozzle row having a heating function is often based on the principle of PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heating. In this case, a PTC element is arranged in each nozzle body. The PTC elements are electrically connected in series. The disadvantages in this heating concept are the relatively high cost of the PTC elements and the fact that it is very laborious to mount the PTC elements in the nozzle body. This is because this is done by an adhesion process. At this time, in particular, fully automatic mounting is impossible.

[0004] Instead, other heating concepts different from PTC technology are often used. These heating concepts often use heating wires laid throughout the entire nozzle row to evenly heat the entire nozzle row, i.e., the nozzle bodies and connecting hoses. However, this has the drawback that not only the nozzle bodies, which are crucial to the operating principle of the nozzle row, but also the hose connections between the nozzle bodies are heated. This inevitably leads to higher energy consumption compared to PTC elements.

[0005] An example of a cleaning apparatus heated by a heating wire is described in Patent Document 1. In this apparatus, the housing has a chamber that can be filled with cleaning fluid and is connected to at least one injection nozzle for the cleaning fluid. A heating wire that can be heated protrudes into the chamber. In particular, to enable rapid de-icing, heat transfer elements are arranged in the chamber to enlarge the heat-convection surface.

[0006] As another example, Patent Document 2 describes a nozzle system for cleaning the window glass of a motorized vehicle, which is attached to a wiper arm. The nozzle system includes a nozzle for discharging cleaning fluid, a pipe, a valve, and a heating element. The nozzle, valve, and pipe form a switchable passage by the valve, and the heating element is located in the pipe.

[0007] Patent Document 3 describes an electric heating device for a spray nozzle of a vehicle window glass cleaning device, which has a heating wire provided in the hole of the spray nozzle. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Application Publication No. 102018221354 [Patent Document 2] German Patent Application Publication No. 102015215932 Specification [Patent Document 3] German Utility Model No. 7431778 Specification [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0009] The object of the present invention is to obtain a nozzle system and cleaning method for cleaning vehicle parts and especially vehicle windows that can be manufactured with minimal effort and cost, and that are effectively heated with minimal energy consumption during operation. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Further advantageous features and details are evident from the dependent claims.

[0011] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a nozzle system is obtained for cleaning a vehicle portion, particularly a window glass of a motorized vehicle, comprising: at least one nozzle body having a nozzle for spraying a cleaning fluid onto the vehicle portion; a fluid conduit arrangement structure formed for connecting to a fluid-based vehicle cleaning system to guide the cleaning fluid to the nozzle body; and a conductive heating wire extending through the fluid conduit arrangement structure and the at least one nozzle body, wherein the heating wire includes portions having different cross-sections depending on its position in the nozzle system.

[0012] This invention enables particularly effective heating of the nozzle system with minimal energy consumption. The introduced energy can be efficiently utilized where it is actually needed. At the same time, the manufacturing effort is minimal and the cost is minimal, because the PTC element, which is relatively expensive and requires considerable effort to install, is no longer necessary.

[0013] The fundamental concept of this invention lies in the fact that the heating element has different cross-sections depending on its position in the nozzle row.

[0014] Advantageously, the heating wire has a smaller cross-section within the nozzle body than within the fluid conduit arrangement structure outside the nozzle body.

[0015] Preferably, the nozzle system has a plurality of nozzle bodies arranged one behind the other and connected to each other by a fluid conduit arrangement structure. Here, one or more nozzle bodies are configured such that a portion of the supplied cleaning fluid flows out through its nozzle, and the other portion of the cleaning fluid is further guided to a nozzle element subsequently positioned in the flow direction.

[0016] Preferably, the fluid conduit arrangement structure includes multiple parts connecting a plurality of spaced nozzle bodies to one another. Advantageously, the parts of the fluid conduit arrangement structure and the nozzle bodies form a continuous fluid passage through which the heating wire extends in a particularly continuous manner.

[0017] In particular, the fluid pipeline layout is formed by a hose system, and the nozzle body is connected by individual hose sections.

[0018] The heating element is advantageously located throughout the entire hose system of the nozzle row and within the nozzle itself.

[0019] For example, the heating element has a relatively large cross-section in the area of ​​the hose member that forms the fluid conduit and connects to a nozzle, while the cross-section of the heating element in the area of ​​the nozzle is very small in comparison.

[0020] The different resistances of the heating wire across large and small cross-sections ensure that the heating wire is significantly heated only in the thin (small cross-section) areas. These thin (narrow, small) cross-section areas are advantageously located directly within the nozzle body itself.

[0021] Advantageously, the diameter of the heating wire in the region of one or more nozzle bodies is less than 1 / 5, preferably less than 1 / 10, and particularly preferably less than 1 / 20 of its diameter in the region of the fluid pipeline arrangement structure.

[0022] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for cleaning a vehicle part, particularly a window glass of a vehicle with a prime mover, comprising the following steps: supplying cleaning liquid to at least one nozzle formed in a nozzle body by a fluid pipeline arrangement structure, and spraying the cleaning liquid onto the vehicle part using the nozzle, wherein the nozzle body is heated by a heating wire extending to the nozzle body in the fluid pipeline arrangement structure, and in the region of the nozzle body, a method is provided in which essentially more thermal energy than the thermal energy in the fluid pipeline arrangement structure is introduced using different cross-sections of the heating wire.

[0023] According to the present invention, particularly low energy consumption is made possible because heating adapted to the purpose is performed at the location of the nozzle body.

[0024] Preferably, the cleaning liquid is supplied to a plurality of nozzle bodies, each heated according to the purpose by a heating wire, using the fluid pipeline arrangement structure.

[0025] In particular, the cleaning method is carried out by a nozzle system according to the present invention.

[0026] According to another aspect of the present invention, a vehicle with a prime mover is obtained, which includes a cleaning system having a nozzle system according to the present invention.

[0027] The advantages, details and features related to one aspect of the present invention respectively apply to other aspects of the present invention as well.

[0028] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0029] [Figure 1] This is a schematic diagram of a nozzle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in which one of the nozzle bodies is additionally shown in an enlarged view from below. [Figure 2] This figure schematically shows a motorized vehicle equipped with a nozzle system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This figure shows a nozzle body with a nozzle, surrounded by a cover. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0030] In each figure, identical or corresponding elements are indicated by the same reference numerals and are therefore not repeated unless it is relevant to the purpose. Furthermore, individual features or combinations of features based on the different embodiments illustrated and described may also be separate, independent, original, or solutions according to the present invention.

[0031] Figure 1 shows a nozzle system 10 for cleaning a vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the example shown here, the nozzle system 10 is used to clean the windshield 11 of a motor vehicle 12 shown in Figure 2. The nozzle system 10 has a nozzle chain and a plurality of nozzle bodies 13, each of which is equipped with nozzles 14, as shown in Figure 3, for spraying cleaning fluid onto the window glass 11 of the vehicle 12.

[0032] As shown in Figure 1, the nozzle bodies 13 are connected to each other by a fluid conduit arrangement structure 15, which is configured to guide a cleaning fluid, such as cleaning water, to the nozzle bodies 13. For this purpose, the fluid conduit arrangement structure 15 includes a connecting element 16, which is formed for connection to a fluid-based cleaning system 17 of the vehicle 12.

[0033] The fluid conduit arrangement structure 15 includes a plurality of fluid conduits or sections 20, 22, 24, which form a hose system and connect spaced nozzle bodies 13 to each other. The sections 20, 22, 24 formed as hose sections, together with the nozzle bodies 13, each having a hollow space or passage for fluid to pass through, form a continuous fluid passage.

[0034] In the fluid conduit arrangement structure 15, a heating wire 18 extends in its longitudinal direction, and this heating wire also extends through each nozzle body 13. That is, the heating wire 18 extends continuously in the longitudinal direction through the fluid passage. Here, the heating wire 18 has portions with different cross-sections depending on its position in the fluid passage and consequently in the nozzle system or nozzle row 10. That is, different portions, segments, or sub-ranges of the heating wire 18 have different cross-sections, and the cross-section of each portion depends on its position in the nozzle system 10 or the fluid passage.

[0035] In Figure 1, the enlarged section A shows the first nozzle body 13 of the nozzle system 10, along with the conduit sections 20 and 22, in an enlarged view from below. The conduit sections are adjacent to and connected to the nozzle body 13 on both sides to conduct the cleaning fluid. The nozzle body 13 is surrounded laterally and above by cover elements 13a, while its lower side 34 is exposed. The heating wire 18 has an essentially smaller cross-section in the nozzle body 13 than the conduit sections 20 and 22 of the fluid conduit arrangement structure 15.

[0036] In other words, the heating element 18 has a relatively large cross-section in the conduit sections 20, 22, and 24, while the cross-section of the heating element 18 is very small in the nozzle body 13 and therefore in the nozzle 14.

[0037] The portion of the heating wire 18 within the conduit sections 20, 22, and 24 is indicated by reference numeral 26, while the portion of the heating wire 18 within the nozzle body 13 is indicated by reference numeral 28.

[0038] Due to the different electrical resistances of the heating wire 18—namely, the electrical resistance in the areas with large cross-sections or in the conduit sections 22, 24, and 26, and the electrical resistance in the areas of the nozzle body 13 with small cross-sections—the heating wire 18 is significantly heated only in the narrow (thin) sections, i.e., in the heating wire sections 28 extending from the nozzle body 13. These narrow sections or parts 28 are advantageously located directly within the nozzle body 13 itself. In this way, the introduced energy can be efficiently utilized where energy is needed.

[0039] The diameter of the heating wire 18 in the nozzle body 13 or each portion 28 is advantageously less than 1 / 5, preferably less than 1 / 10, and particularly preferably less than 1 / 20, of its diameter within the fluid conduit arrangement structure 15.

[0040] With the configuration of the heating wire 18 described here, in order to achieve the same heating capacity within the nozzle body 13 as in the case of a nozzle system with a continuous heating wire having a constant cross-section, a total energy input to the heating element or heating wire is required that is many times lower. This is because a heating wire with a constant cross-section generates heat uniformly along its entire length.

[0041] The connecting element 16 for connecting a nozzle row or nozzle system 10 to the washing system 17 of the vehicle 12 is formed by a connecting member in the form of a hose connector and an electrical connection part for the electrical connection of a heating wire 18 to a voltage source (not shown in the figure).

[0042] To fix the nozzle row 10 to the vehicle 12 or the vehicle body, the nozzle row 10 is provided with fixing elements 30a and 30b, which are fixed to different parts 20, 22, and 24 of the fluid pipeline arrangement structure 15. The fixing elements 30a and 30b are formed, for example, as clamp elements or clips, and are used to guide the fluid pipeline arrangement structure or hose, so that the hose can be fixed to, or is fixed to, the bonnet 32 ​​of the vehicle 12 and is held there.

[0043] In addition, Figure 3 shows a plan view of the nozzle 14 formed on the nozzle body 13, which is largely surrounded by the cover element 13a.

[0044] The lower part 34 of the nozzle body 13 is formed as a mounting surface or in the shape of a plate. A projection 36 is formed on the lower part 34, and this projection engages with a thin plate of the hood 32 of the vehicle 12 in order to fix the nozzle row 10.

[0045] The nozzle system according to the present invention can be fixed to a vehicle 12 in various ways and can be used to clean parts of the vehicle, such as the windshield. For example, the nozzle system can be fixed or fitted to the wiper arm of a window glass wiper system, or to be fixed within the wiper arm, for cleaning the windshield. In another embodiment, the nozzle system is configured to clean the rear window of the vehicle. In yet another embodiment, the nozzle system is formed to clean a sensor or sensor surface, a camera, and other parts of the vehicle. The nozzle system can generally be used for water-based or fluid-based cleaning systems for cleaning parts or surfaces of a vehicle.

[0046] To clean the vehicle parts, cleaning fluid is supplied to the nozzle bodies 13 using the fluid conduit arrangement structure 15 of the nozzle system 10, and sprayed from there onto the vehicle parts using nozzles 14 located on each nozzle body 13. The vehicle parts are, for example, the windshield or windshield 11 of the vehicle 12. Here, within the area of ​​the nozzle body 13, the heating wires 18 introduce essentially more thermal energy than within the area of ​​the fluid conduit arrangement structure 15 or the fluid conduit parts 20, 22, 24.

[0047] For example, different embodiments of the nozzle system are possible, such as having multiple nozzle bodies 13 as illustrated in the figure, or having only one nozzle body 13. In the case of multiple nozzle bodies 13, some of the nozzle bodies are configured so that the cleaning fluid flows through one or more nozzle bodies 13, and then proceeds to one or more nozzle bodies 13. When the fluid flows through each nozzle body 13, a portion of the cleaning fluid is sprayed and / or atomized onto the vehicle body or window glass 11 by the nozzle 14 or multiple nozzles of the nozzle body.

[0048] This invention enhances the effectiveness of cleaning while simultaneously reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, because the energy required for heating is introduced in a point-like manner only where necessary, energy consumption is reduced. Moreover, this invention enables a highly efficient cleaning nozzle system for vehicles without the need for PTC elements, resulting in an inherently simpler, more automated, and therefore cheaper manufacturing process. In addition, there are far more options for supplying components, further enhancing the economics of manufacturing. Furthermore, the present invention may also encompass the following embodiments: 1. A nozzle system (10) for cleaning a vehicle part (11) that is a window glass of a motor vehicle (12), A nozzle body (13) having a nozzle (14) for spraying cleaning fluid onto a vehicle part (11), A fluid conduit arrangement structure (15) formed to connect to a fluid-based vehicle (12) cleaning system (17) in order to guide the cleaning fluid to the nozzle body (13), A fluid conduit arrangement structure (15) and a conductive heating wire (18) extending through at least one nozzle body (13) and In a nozzle system including, A nozzle system characterized in that the heating element (18) includes portions (26, 28) having different cross-sections depending on their respective positions in the nozzle system (10). 2. The nozzle system according to 1. above, characterized in that the heating element (18) has a smaller cross-section within the nozzle body (13) than the cross-section within the fluid conduit arrangement structure (15) outside the nozzle body (13). 3. The nozzle system according to 1. or 2. above, characterized in that the fluid conduit arrangement structure (15) includes a plurality of parts (20, 22, 24) that connect a plurality of spaced nozzle bodies (13) to each other, and the parts (20, 22, 24) of the fluid conduit arrangement structure (15) and the nozzle bodies (13) form a continuous fluid passage through which a heating wire (18) extends continuously. 4. The nozzle system according to any one of 1. to 3. above, characterized in that the fluid pipeline arrangement structure (15) is formed by a hose system, and the nozzle body (13) is connected by individual hose sections. 5. The nozzle system according to any one of 1. to 4. above, characterized in that the diameter of the heating element (18) is less than 1 / 5 of its diameter in the fluid conduit arrangement structure (15) in the area of ​​one or more nozzle bodies (13). 6. A method for cleaning a vehicle part (11) that is a window glass of a motor vehicle (12), the following steps: The steps include supplying cleaning fluid to at least one nozzle (14) formed in the nozzle body (13) by a fluid conduit arrangement structure (15), The steps include: spraying cleaning solution onto the vehicle part (11) using a nozzle (14); A method comprising the following: the nozzle body (13) is heated by a heating wire extending to the nozzle body in the fluid conduit arrangement structure (15), and within the scope of the nozzle body (13), essentially more thermal energy is introduced by different cross-sections of the heating wire (18) than the thermal energy in the fluid conduit arrangement structure (15). 7. The method according to 6., characterized in that the cleaning solution is supplied to a plurality of nozzle bodies (13), each heated by a heating wire (18) according to the purpose, using a fluid conduit arrangement structure (15). 8. The method according to 6. or 7. above, characterized in that it is performed by the nozzle system described in any one of 1. to 5. above. 9. A motorized vehicle (12) characterized by including a cleaning system (17) having a nozzle system as described in any one of 1. to 5. above. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0049] 10 Nozzle System / Nozzle Row 11 Window glass / windshield 12. Motorized vehicles 13 Nozzle Body 13a Cover element 14 nozzles 15 Fluid pipe arrangement structure 16 connection elements 17 Cleaning System 18 Heating wire 20, 22, 24 Fluid pipeline layout structure / pipeline section 26. The portion of the heating element within the conduit section. 28. Part of the heating element within the nozzle body. 30a,30b Fixed element 32 Bonnet 34 Lower side 36 Protrusion

Claims

1. A nozzle system (10) for cleaning a vehicle part (11) of a motorized vehicle (12), A nozzle body (13) having a nozzle (14) for spraying cleaning fluid onto a vehicle part (11), A fluid conduit arrangement structure (15) is formed to be connected to the vehicle's (12) cleaning system (17) in order to guide the cleaning fluid to the nozzle body (13), A conductive heating wire (18) is routed through the fluid conduit arrangement structure (15) and through at least one nozzle body (13) and In a nozzle system including, A nozzle system characterized in that the heating element (18) has a smaller cross-section within the nozzle body (13) than the cross-section within the fluid conduit arrangement structure (15) outside the nozzle body (13).

2. The nozzle system according to claim 1, characterized in that the fluid conduit arrangement structure (15) includes a plurality of parts (20, 22, 24) that connect a plurality of spaced nozzle bodies (13) to each other, and the parts (20, 22, 24) of the fluid conduit arrangement structure (15) and the nozzle bodies (13) form a continuous fluid passage through which a heating wire (18) is continuously routed.

3. The nozzle system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the fluid conduit arrangement structure (15) is formed by a hose system, and the nozzle body (13) is connected by individual hose sections.

4. The nozzle system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the diameter of the heating element (18) is less than 1 / 5 of its diameter in the area of ​​the fluid conduit arrangement structure (15) within the area of ​​one or more nozzle bodies (13).

5. A method for cleaning a vehicle part (11) of a motor vehicle (12), comprising the following steps: The steps include supplying cleaning fluid to at least one nozzle (14) formed in the nozzle body (13) by a fluid conduit arrangement structure (15), The steps include: spraying cleaning solution onto the vehicle part (11) using a nozzle (14); A method comprising heating a nozzle body (13) by a heating wire passed through the nozzle body in a fluid conduit arrangement structure (15), and introducing essentially more thermal energy than the thermal energy in the fluid conduit arrangement structure (15) through different cross-sections of the heating wire (18) within the nozzle body (13).

6. The method according to 5, characterized in that the cleaning solution is supplied to a plurality of nozzle bodies (13), each heated according to the purpose by a heating wire (18), using a fluid conduit arrangement structure (15).

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that it is performed by the nozzle system described in any one of claims 1 to 4.

8. A motorized vehicle (12) comprising a cleaning system (17) having a nozzle system according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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